Dawn Crim, Gov. Tony Evers' pick to lead the state Department of Safety and Professional Services, faces a Senate panel Wednesday following news Crim was once charged with felony child abuse.(Photo: Molly Beck / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers' pick to lead the state's licensing agency told a Senate panel Wednesday she "made a horrendous mistake" in 2005 when she was charged with felony child abuse after repeatedly poking her son's hand with a pen causing him to bleed.

"Fourteen years ago I made a horrendous mistake that hurt my son," Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dawn Crim said. "It was the worst experience of my life. I have taken responsibility for my actions and I vowed that it would never happen again. And it hasn't."

Wednesday was the first time Crim faced questions from Senate Republicans, some of whom have all but promised to block her confirmation after learning of the episode just last week.

The 2005 charge was dismissed through a deferred prosecution agreement after Crim admitted fault, agreed to take a parenting class, undergo a psychological examination and pledge to never again use physical punishment to discipline her child.

Dane County officials also separately overturned their initial finding of child abuse that prompted the criminal charge.

Crim told the Senate Committee on Public Benefits, Licensing and State-Federal Relations she was not comfortable with releasing information about the criminal proceeding and the county investigation, but wanted the committee to also see "positive information about what was happening at that time."

"I have moved on, my family and I have moved on," she said.

But Crim's testimony might not be enough to persuade skeptical Republicans who control the Senate, including Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, to confirm her appointment.

Kapenga said he was more concerned about Evers and Crim not notifying senators about the 2005 charge earlier than the allegations themselves.

"I'm not sure why (Evers) waited until the last minute for us to get all the information when he knew about this not even a week ago but it sounds like there were discussions that took place when she was brought out," Kapenga told reporters. "And something this big ... I think it should have been disclosed up front."

Kapenga and Republican Sen. David Craig of Big Bend said Evers' staff provided the committee with a packet of records related to the 2005 criminal and county investigation into the incident a day before the hearing.

The packet of records also included a letter from Crim dated Tuesday, in which she told committee members the 2005 incident "was the most difficult situation my family has ever experienced."

"I love my children — they are the most important part of my life. My son and I have always had a strong, loving relationship," Crim wrote in the letter.

Derrick Smith, a longtime friend of Crim's who lives in Madison, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Wednesday he was close with Crim and her husband at the time of the incident and characterized it as an anomaly.

"It wasn't anything that put any walls up or any barriers for the family at all. I think it was a learning experience for everybody and they've gone on with their life," Smith said. "Quite honestly, I wouldn't feel the way I do about her and (her husband) and her family if I thought this was something that was a consistent type of thing."

Smith said both of Crim's children "have great relationships with their parents."

Crim was criminally charged after day care employees notified Dane County Human Services' child protective services. Crim had punished her 5-year-old son for poking another child with a pen by stabbing his hand repeatedly with a pen.

The charge was filed after Dane County child protection officials ultimately told police Crim’s punishment of her son was suspected child abuse.

But after Crim admitted fault and the criminal charge was dismissed through a deferred prosecution agreement, Crim successfully appealed to county officials to overturn their initial finding of physical child abuse, according to county records

Craig on Wednesday questioned that decision because the Dane County official who overturned the finding also sits on a University of Wisconsin-Madison board to which Crim belongs. Crim said she wasn't aware.

Kapenga also told reporters he has questions about whether Crim is experienced enough in licensing and regulatory fields.

Crim said Evers approached her about the DSPS position because of her experience working with the Department of Public Instruction's Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs.

The programs are run out of five offices across the state and help families living in low-income households learn about college opportunities and navigate the process of picking and paying for college.

In 2017, Crim joined the DPI after working in UW-Madison's School of Education for six years.

Crim worked in the UW-Madison chancellor's office at the time of the 2005 incident, and also worked as a television announcer for Badgers women's basketball games.